Before we dive into the list, let me properly introduce myself and explain why a Seoul photographer is talking so passionately about coffee beans and roasting profiles.


Hi, I’m Josh! My deep dive into the coffee world actually began back in 2018 during my working holiday in New Zealand, where I first experienced the vibrant Kiwi cafe culture while working at a local coffee shop.


When I returned to South Korea in 2019, my passion for the craft only grew. I worked as a full-time barista for four years until 2023, completely immersing myself in the rapidly evolving and highly competitive Korean specialty coffee scene.


Now, as I parallel my journey as a professional Seoul photographer, I want to bring my two biggest passions together: capturing beautiful moments through my lens and hunting down the perfect cup of coffee.


Through this new blog series, my goal is to share my insider knowledge of Korea’s unique cafe culture and introduce the most stunning, high-quality roastery spaces to fellow coffee nerds all around the world.



So, let’s get started with my absolute favorites! 

Black and white photo of a man wearing glasses working at a coffee espresso machine in a cafe.
Metal sign reading Knit Coffee mounted on a light wood door entrance to a cozy cafe interior.

📍 Information



  • Address (EN): Namsan Trapalace 1F (Room 107), 30 Sowol-ro 2-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
  • Address (KR): 서울 중구 소월로2길 30, 남산트라팰리스 1층 107호


Opening Hours:

  • Mon-Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM (Last Order 04:50 PM)
  • Sat-Sun: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM (Last Order 05:50 PM)


Instagram: @knitcoffee_official


A laminated cafe menu board displaying espresso, coffee, tea, filter, and other drink options with prices.

☕ Barista Josh’s Guide to the Knit Coffee Menu


As a former barista, looking closely at the menu in IMG_1078 복사본_2.jpg genuinely impressed me. This place goes far beyond just being an aesthetically pleasing space; it focuses on the true essence of specialty coffee. If you visit, I highly recommend experiencing the following menu items:


  • For the Coffee Nerds: High-End Filter Pour-overs

Their filter coffee lineup is absolutely stellar. I particularly recommend the 'Peru Maranniyuq SL9 (Inca Gesha) Double Anaerobic Washed' bursting with jasmine florals and clean white peach notes, or the 'Costa Rica Hacienda Copey Itadaki Geisha Anaerobic Natural' that holds a vibrant pomegranate and blood orange aroma. Seeing multiple Geisha variations processed with advanced methods like double anaerobic fermentation shows they mean serious business and cater perfectly to true coffee aficionados.


  • A Unique Signature: Rice Flavored Milk & Espresso Cream

If you are looking for a unique espresso-based drink or something with a comforting, local twist, you have to try their signature 'White' (served iced). It features 'Rice Flavored Milk' topped with a rich espresso cream. The blend of the savory, subtly sweet rice aroma—which brings a wonderful touch of familiar Korean flavors—combined with the bold espresso creates a perfect signature drink that you can truly only experience here.


  • Detail-Oriented Blends and Decaf Options

If you are having a standard espresso beverage like an Americano or a Flat White, you get to choose between their thoughtfully curated house blends: the nutty, well-balanced 'Cotton Blend' or the 'Silk Blend' which features the charming sweetness of peach and a smooth caramel finish. Also, the fact that they offer a dedicated 'Decaffeine' bean boasting cozy notes of biscuit and brown sugar—along with an oat milk alternative—shows their incredible thoughtfulness for every guest's preference and caffeine tolerance.


  • Ever-Changing Bean Lineup.

Since they are a true specialty roastery, their high-end filter lineup likely rotates periodically depending on seasonality and the best available green beans. This means every time you visit, there’s a chance to discover a brand new, exciting flavor profile!

Wooden retail shelving display with Knit branded tote bag, coffee products, ceramic mugs, and small plants in a modern shop.
Knit Coffee branded bags and boxes displayed on wooden shelves alongside ceramic mugs in a minimalist cafe setting.
Knit coffee shop retail display shelf with branded bags, coffee packages, and ceramic mugs on wooden shelving unit.

Take the Experience Home: Beans, Drip Bags & Merch

Right in the cafe, you will find a beautifully curated wooden display shelf that immediately catches the eye. As a true specialty roastery, they exhibit and sell various types of coffee and carefully selected merchandise, allowing you to bring the Knit Coffee experience back home with you.


  • Freshly Roasted Beans & Convenient Drip Bags If you fall in love with your cup of coffee, you can purchase their freshly roasted beans directly from the shelf. I noticed their beautifully packaged 'Silk Blend'—featuring delightful tasting notes of strawberry, blueberry, and candy syrup—along with their decaf options. For travelers or those who want an easy, high-quality brew at their hotel or office, their boxes of drip bags are an absolute must-buy. They even occasionally run special promotions on these, making it a great time to stock up!


  • Artisanal Ceramics and Signature Souvenirs Beyond the coffee itself, the display features a collection of gorgeous, earthy ceramic cups in varying textures and tones, perfect for elevating your home-brewing ritual. Hanging right next to the shelves is a stylish, minimalist olive-green tote bag featuring the classic "knit" logo. If you are a coffee nerd visiting Seoul, picking up a bag of local beans and a piece of their merchandise makes for the perfect, practical souvenir from your cafe-hopping adventure.
Bakery display case with chocolate brownies, pecan bars, and golden egg tarts arranged on wooden shelves with label cards.
Wooden bakery display case filled with assorted Portuguese custard tarts and fruit pastries with price tags.

The Perfect Pairing: Artisanal Financiers & Tarts

As any barista will tell you, a truly exceptional coffee experience is elevated by the perfect sweet bite. To enhance the complex tasting notes of their specialty beans, Knit Coffee offers a beautifully curated selection of baked goods displayed neatly in a warm, wooden glass case.

Designed specifically not to overpower your coffee but to complement it perfectly, the top shelf boasts an impressive variety of classic


  • French-style financiers. You can choose from their buttery Plain Financier, or go for richer, textured flavors like the Salty Caramel, Roasted Almond, or the decadent Salty Chocolate Financier. They even offer an Apple Cinnamon Crumble Financier for those who love a cozy, spiced bite.


  • Moving to the bottom shelf, they serve an array of beautifully baked, flaky tarts. Their classic Egg Tarts feature a wonderfully caramelized, pastry crust. If you want something a bit more robust or unique, they also bake glossy Pecan Tarts packed with whole nuts, and a visually striking Corn Tart topped with a piece of actual roasted corn.



Try pairing a slice of the sweet Apple Cinnamon Crumble Financier with a fruity, light-roasted Geisha pour-over, or grab a rich Pecan Tart to balance out the bittersweet, nutty notes of their Cotton Blend Americano. It adds a whole new layer of richness to your tasting experience!

Fresh Out of the Oven: The Baking Schedule


To ensure you get to enjoy these treats at their absolute freshest, Knit Coffee kindly shares their daily baking schedule right at the counter.


  • Financiers: 10:00 AM (Weekdays) / 09:30 AM (Weekends & Holidays)
  • Tarts: 11:00 AM (Weekdays) / 10:30 AM (Weekends & Holidays)


A quick word of advice, though! Because these pastries perfectly complement their specialty coffee, they are incredibly popular among the locals and tend to sell out very quickly. If you have your heart set on a specific treat—like that visually striking Corn Tart or a warm Salty Chocolate Financier—I highly recommend timing your visit closer to these release hours so you don't miss out on the perfect pairing.

Person sitting by large windows in a cozy wooden cafe with garden view and yellow awning.
Modern cafe interior with wooden benches and tables near large windows overlooking a sunny outdoor plaza.
Cozy minimalist cafe interior with wooden furniture, ceiling fan, and patrons working on laptops in a bright, airy space.

The Atmosphere: Sunlit, Spacious, and Inviting


Stepping into Knit Coffee, you are immediately greeted by a surprisingly spacious and beautifully designed interior. The cafe features a warm, minimalist aesthetic, anchored by classic herringbone wooden floors, crisp white walls, and a gentle wooden ceiling fan that adds a touch of breezy comfort to the room.


What truly sets the mood here is the abundance of natural light. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows line the front of the cafe, looking out onto a peaceful patch of greenery. Bathed in the warm, diffused glow from the vibrant yellow awning outside, the window-side wooden bench seating—complete with clever, built-in mini tables—is the absolute perfect spot to sit back, sip a pour-over, and simply watch the world go by.


Beyond the beautiful window views, the main floor is thoughtfully arranged to be incredibly versatile. The indoor space is quite wide, designed with ample seating so that even multiple people or larger groups can comfortably sit together. With a continuous, cushioned bench wrapping around the walls and movable wooden tables with matching stools, the layout easily accommodates both friends catching up and solo visitors typing away quietly on their laptops. It is a wonderfully inviting, work-friendly environment that encourages you to linger over your coffee just a little bit longer.

Wooden tray with glass of ice, Korean menu card, and pitcher of black coffee on cafe table.
Frothy iced coffee in a tall glass beside a chocolate glazed pastry on a wooden tray in a cafe.

My Order: A High-End Pour-Over & A Summer Surprise

As a devoted filter coffee enthusiast, I naturally gravitated toward their pour-over selection for my first cup. I ordered the Costa Rica Hacienda Copey Itadaki Geisha served over ice. The presentation was impeccable—it arrived on a neat wooden tray with the coffee in a separate glass carafe, alongside a detailed blue tasting card explaining its complex anaerobic natural processing. Pouring the rich, amber coffee over the pristine ice cubes released its vibrant aromatics. True to the tasting notes, it delivered bright flashes of pomegranate and blood orange with an incredibly clean, tropical finish.


The Local Perk: Stamp Coupons & Seasonal Menus


Here is a fun local tip: Knit Coffee offers a stamp coupon card for returning customers! After finishing my pour-over, I realized I had finally collected enough stamps to earn a complimentary drink. With the weather warming up, it felt like the perfect opportunity to try their seasonal special: the Coffee Slush.

Arriving tall, frosty, and topped with a thick, icy foam, this drink is the ultimate antidote to the Korean summer heat. It strikes a wonderful balance—refreshingly cold and sweet, yet still retaining a robust coffee flavor that doesn't get lost in the ice.


The Perfect Sweet Pairing

To complete this summer afternoon treat, I paired the Coffee Slush with their Salty Chocolate Financier. The dense, buttery texture of the baked cake, coated in rich chocolate and finished with a sharp crunch of sea salt, created a phenomenal contrast with the frosty, smooth slush. If you happen to visit Knit Coffee during the warmer months, this icy, salty-sweet combination is an absolute must-try!

Modern minimalist cafe exterior with wooden bench, glass facade, and lush greenery in an urban setting.
Modern Japanese cafe exterior with wooden stools, potted trees, and retractable awning on a sunny urban sidewalk.
Modern cafe storefront with beige awning, large glass windows, and potted plants on a sunny urban sidewalk.

Al Fresco Vibes: The Outdoor Terrace


Knit Coffee doesn’t just offer a beautiful interior; it also extends its warmly inviting atmosphere to the outdoors. The cafe's sleek exterior features a wide, elegant beige awning that casts a comfortable shade over the terrace area. Right along the expansive glass windows, you will find a cleverly designed built-in wooden bench equipped with neat, floating mini-tables. Accompanied by minimalist stackable wooden stools and tasteful potted greenery, the setup seamlessly connects the modern cafe to the wide, peaceful pedestrian path just outside.


While sitting outdoors might get a bit too warm during the peak of the Korean summer, this terrace becomes an absolutely dream-like spot during the milder seasons. Just imagine visiting on a bright, clear spring morning or a cool, breezy autumn afternoon. Sitting out here, feeling the gentle wind while sipping a perfectly brewed hand-drip coffee and biting into a sweet, buttery financier—it is truly an unbeatable choice for taking a relaxing pause in the middle of the city.

Modern Japanese cafe interior with wooden furniture, pendant lights, and large windows overlooking lush greenery.
Modern coffee bar with espresso machines, grinders, Chemex brewers, and a tablet POS system on a wooden counter with city views.

Beyond the Cup: Genuine Warmth and Hospitality


While the exceptional specialty beans and thoughtfully crafted desserts are reason enough to visit, what truly makes me love and recommend Knit Coffee is something much harder to perfect: the genuine attitude of the staff.


From the moment you step through the doors, you are greeted with a welcoming, positive energy. Watching the baristas work behind their beautifully organized, sunlit wooden coffee bar—equipped with top-tier grinders and pristine glass pour-over stations—you can immediately see the incredible care they put into their craft. But what stands out even more than their technical skill is how they interact with their guests.


This exceptional hospitality extends through your entire visit, from the moment you place your order to the second you walk out the door. In a fast-paced, bustling city like Seoul, it is a rare joy to find a cafe that makes you feel so genuinely valued. At Knit Coffee, you walk away having experienced something much more meaningful than just a great cup of coffee—you leave with a lasting sense of comfort and a reason to keep coming back.
Follow me on Instagram
@joshfotos_